Page 53 of Wagon Train Dreams
Only when they packed up the cloth, closed the lid on the basket, and began their journey back to the wagons, did she admit they’d both evaded one subject in their discussions.
They hadn’t talked about the future.
She’d avoided it because it was too uncertain, and she didn’t want to ruin today’s pleasure. Time for those talks would come soon enough. Yet a knot of worry—or was it merely hesitation?—made itself known in her chest.
Chapter Thirteen
Joe carried the basket back to the camp. Everyone was safe and sound as he’d known they would be. He had no reason for concern when they were parked near a town. But he must not let his feelings for Hazel distract him from his responsibilities.
“Any word on the repairs?” he asked Gabe after he’d set the picnic basket in the wagon and taken his leave of Hazel, pausing to watch her greet her son.
Gabe grunted, bending over while greasing an axle. “Monday, he says.”
That had been the estimate from the start.
Gabe hunkered back on his heels. “It will be nice to be here over Sunday and attend the church.”
“Of course.” Joe stiffened. He hadn’t often entered the white man’s church after discovering that east of Fort Qu’Appelle he wasn’t welcomed. West and north were a different matter. The Natives and traders mixed more often and more freely.
Thankfully, Gabe did not pursue the matter, and Joe moved away to check on the animals. The oxen were getting their necessary rest. Their wounds from crashing into the gully were healing nicely. Joe had no concerns, yet he wandered among theanimals, often shifting his attention back to the campfire where Hazel stirred a pot while holding Petey on her hip.
Something inside him broke open. His mouth dried. All things are possible. If he just believed. It was something his mother had taught him. It was also a truth from the Bible, but it didn’t apply to wanting the fulfillment of his dreams.
Needing a drink and space to think, he hurried to the dam and scooped water up to his mouth. He studied the flash of sunlight on the water, the birds swimming among the reeds.
He had dreams that he thought were over. But seeing Hazel, learning to care for her and Petey, brought those dreams back to life.
Her determination caused him to believe a possibility existed.
Hazel touched his shoulder. “Supper.”
He rose to his feet. He’d heard her approach and felt her presence like a kiss deep inside. Like a mother’s hug. Like?—
Enough.
They walked back to the campfire where the others had already gathered. Two side-by-side spots remained. He sat with Hazel at his elbow. Petey trotted over.
Later, he couldn’t have said what they ate. Except to acknowledge his hunger was gone, so he must have eaten something.
The meal was over, and he went back to the oxen, leaning on the warm side of one of them. He hadn’t noticed which one. His thoughts were scrambled like a broken egg.
When he heard Gabe begin to strum his guitar, he pushed aside every uncertainty and returned to the others. For half a heartbeat, he considered standing in the shadow of the trees. But the empty stool beside Hazel beckoned, and he slid into place. Petey reached from his mother’s arms, and Joe took him.The baby grabbed Joe’s hand and put his tiny palm to Joe’s. A protectiveness as fierce as a winter storm raged in Joe’s chest.
As usual, Gabe played “Home Sweet Home,” and as usual, they all sat back and listened to Gabe and Marnie sing a duet. Then Gabe plucked a song Joe’d never heard before. The other travelers sang the words of a love song that stirred a response deep inside Joe. The other couples were lost in their contemplation of each other. Joe didn’t have the right to look at Hazel the way Gabe, Walt, and Cecil looked at their wives. So he forced himself to stare into the flames, but when she pressed closer to his side, he bent toward her. The future blossomed with promises such as he hadn’t known since before Pa died.
When his dreams had died.
But now he had a new dream. A new possibility. And remembering a passage in the Scriptures Pa had read to him several times, he smiled deep inside.To every thing there is a season.Maybe this was his season for love.
The smile lingered later as he lay on his bedroll.
When he rose the next morning and noticed the ladies in pretty dresses and fussing over their hair, his smile died. They were going to church.
Hazel met his gaze over the distance, her eyes warm and inviting.
As they sat to eat breakfast, she couldn’t stop smiling at him.
“I can’t wait to go to church.” She handed him a cup of coffee. “It will be so different from just us.” Her gaze included those gathered around the fire. “Aren’t you excited?”
